11 fascinating facts about snakes and 5 common myths you probably still believe

Time of India

5 days ago

Snakes have captivated human imagination for centuries, often depicted as symbols of danger or evil. But much of what people believe about these reptiles is rooted in myth, not science.
Despite their fearsome reputation, snakes play a vital ecological role—from controlling pests to balancing food chains. Across cultures and media, they're portrayed as mysterious or menacing, but the truth is far more fascinating. Some species can glide, others 'see' with heat-sensing pits, and most aren't venomous at all. Understanding how snakes behave and their importance in ecosystems can turn fear into appreciation.
Here are 11 surprising facts about snakes—along with two popular myths that deserve to be shed, just like a snake's skin.
11
surprising facts about snakes
that will change how you see them
Snakes evolved from four-legged lizards
Snakes didn't start out limbless. They evolved from lizard-like ancestors with legs over 100 million years ago. As they adapted to underground or aquatic environments, their limbs gradually disappeared. Fossils like Najash rionegrina show early snakes with small but functional back legs. Even today, boas and pythons still carry tiny leg spurs, a remnant of their evolutionary past.
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They don't 'unhinge' their jaws
It's a myth that snakes 'unhinge' or dislocate their jaws to eat. Instead, their skulls are built for extreme flexibility. Their lower jaws are connected by stretchy ligaments and movable bones, letting them swallow prey much larger than their heads. Thanks to this design, large pythons can devour animals as big as antelope—without ever 'unhinging' anything.
Not all snakes lay eggs
Around 30% of snake species give birth to live young. Boas, garter snakes, and many vipers don't lay eggs—instead, they carry developing embryos inside their bodies.
Even egg-layers like pythons sometimes display maternal behaviors, such as coiling around their eggs and generating heat to incubate them. King cobras go further, building nests and guarding them until the eggs hatch.
They have incredible senses
Snakes are built to sense their environment in extraordinary ways. They use their forked tongues to pick up scent particles and 'taste' the air, transferring chemical data to the Jacobson's organ in their mouths.
Some snakes—like vipers and pythons—also have heat-sensing pits, giving them the ability to 'see' warm-blooded prey in total darkness. In the ocean, sea snakes use pressure-sensitive organs to detect tiny water movements made by nearby fish.
Snake venom is a precision tool and a medical treasure
Snake venom is not just dangerous—it's highly specialized for hunting and digestion. Some species use hemotoxins that break down tissue, while others, like cobras, produce neurotoxins to paralyze prey.
This biochemical weapon has also inspired life-saving medicines. ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure, for example, were developed from Brazilian pit viper venom. Scientists are now exploring venom compounds for treating cancer, strokes, and chronic pain.
Snakes are ancient and amazingly diverse
With over 3,900 known species, snakes have colonized almost every environment on Earth—from deserts and rainforests to oceans. They survived the dinosaur extinction and have been around for more than 100 million years.
But snake populations are declining due to habitat loss and human persecution. Their role as both predator and prey means losing them could cause ecological imbalance, such as rodent population booms and crop damage.
Some snakes can go months (even years) without eating
Snakes are masters of energy conservation. Large snakes like pythons can go for months—or even a year—without food after a large meal. They lower their metabolism dramatically and shrink their digestive organs to conserve energy.
When food returns, their systems re-activate quickly, allowing them to digest large prey efficiently. This adaptation makes them well-suited to unpredictable environments.
Snakes can't hear like humans
Snakes don't have external ears, so they can't hear airborne sounds the way we do. Instead, they detect vibrations through their jawbones, allowing them to 'feel' movements around them—especially useful for detecting predators or prey.
When you see a cobra 'dancing' to a snake charmer's flute, it's not responding to the music—it's reacting to visual cues and vibrations in the ground.
They have hundreds of vertebrae
Snakes may be limbless, but their skeletons are complex. Most species have 200–400 vertebrae, each paired with ribs. This design gives snakes their incredible flexibility and strength. Different movement styles—like sidewinding, concertina motion, or straight-line crawling—are made possible by this ingenious structure and the muscles that control each segment.
Snakes do not chase humans
One of the most common myths is that snakes will chase people. This simply isn't true. Snakes prefer avoidance over confrontation, and what looks like 'chasing' is usually the snake trying to escape along the same path you're on. Most snake bites happen when people try to kill or handle snakes, not because snakes are attacking. Knowing this can help prevent panic and promote safe, respectful encounters in nature.
Snakes are essential to ecosystems
Snakes play a critical role in maintaining balance in nature.
They help control populations of pests—like rats and mice—that damage crops and spread disease. Just one rat snake can eat hundreds of rodents a year. They're also an important food source for owls, hawks, and other predators. And by preying on the sick or weak, snakes help reduce disease transmission within prey species.
5
myths about snakes
you have probably believed until now
MYTH #1: Snakes are slimy
Snake skin may look slick, but it's completely dry. Their scales are made of keratin, the same material in our nails and hair.
The texture feels more like soft leather than anything wet or slimy. This myth likely comes from confusing snakes with amphibians like frogs, whose skin actually is moist and slimy.
MYTH #2: Most snakes are dangerous
Only about 15% of snake species are venomous, and just 5% are dangerous to humans. In the U.S., fewer than five people die from snakebites annually—bee stings and lightning strikes are far more deadly. Most snakes are shy and will only bite when threatened.
Understanding which species are truly dangerous—and giving them space—is smarter than fearing all snakes equally.
MYTH #3: Snakes chase humans
Snakes do not actively chase people. When one seems to be "chasing" you, it's likely trying to escape in the same direction or is startled and disoriented. Unlike predators, snakes have no reason to pursue humans—they lack the intelligence or intent to stalk prey that large.
MYTH #4: Baby snakes are more venomous than adults
While some believe young snakes are more dangerous because they "can't control their venom," this isn't backed by solid science.
Adult snakes have larger venom glands and more control over venom delivery, making them potentially more dangerous. Baby snakes can still bite, but they are not "deadlier."
MYTH #5: All snakes lay eggs
Not all snakes are egg-layers. Many species, especially in colder climates, give birth to live young. This includes rattlesnakes, boas, and garter snakes. These live-bearing species have evolved to protect their young from environmental extremes, proving snakes are more diverse than commonly thought.
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